The family of Bob Jones has announced a licensing agreement for golf equipment with a newly formed company, The Bobby Jones Golf Company, LLC (“Bobby Jones Golf”).
Hartmarx Corporation (parent of Hickey Freeman and its Bobby Jones apparel division) and the Bob Jones family unveiled an international agreement to license the manufacturing and marketing rights for the use of the Bobby Jones trademark on golf clubs and equipment accessories. The luxury products included in this agreement are: golf clubs, golf bags, shoes, head covers, gloves and golf balls.
The owners of Bobby Jones Golf are: Walter J. Rosenthal of Malibu, CA., J. Richard Ryan Esq., of New York, The Ortiz Design Studio of San Francisco, CA., and Venturi & Company LLC of Burlingame, CA. Walter Rosenthal, Chief Executive Officer of the new entity commented, “The formation and strategic alliance with Hickey Freeman’s Bobby Jones apparel division to manufacture golf equipment and accessories of unprecedented craftsmanship will fill a void in better golf shops in the U.S. and worldwide. Bobby Jones golf clubs, to be introduced at the PGA Show in Orlando, Florida on January 29th will be designed by leading industry craftsmen who understand contemporary technology and product aesthetics that are consistent with the standards established by the Bobby Jones apparel division. Accordingly, our products will be marketed through fine resort and club pro shops and better specialty stores featuring Bobby Jones apparel products.”
The initial equipment introduction will be focused on drivers and fairway woods created and engineered by internationally acclaimed golf club designer, Jesse Ortiz. Describing the new clubs, Mr. Ortiz said, “The Bobby Jones woods have elegance that belies their ease of playability. Combining the latest crown and face material advancements with high-end Fujikura Speeder shafts (previously unavailable in America) will optimize distance, launch trajectory and accuracy for moderate swing speeds.”
For the Bob Jones family, Bob Jones IV said, “My family and I are truly excited about this unique concept of producing the ultimate in equipment to be distributed exclusively through luxury market channels. We believe that the Bobby Jones name should only be associated with nothing less than first class products and we believe that the group headed by Walter Rosenthal shares not only our conviction but also our commitment to unparalleled quality.”
Elbert O. Hand, Chairman of Hartmarx Corporation (NYSE:HMX), commented, “The Bobby Jones apparel division of Hickey Freeman is at the leading edge of our company’s luxury strategy. Our business partnership with the Jones family to license and develop worldwide relationships to manufacture and market luxury products in all appropriate categories takes an important step forward with the golf equipment initiative.”
Hartmarx Corporation produces and markets business, casual and golf apparel for both men and women through a broad range of retail channels.
Hartmarx Corporation www.hartmarx.com/
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